【 TBS Cultivation Venue Directive No. 4 :
Cultivation Venue Conduct Concerning Venue Name Bestowed by Grandmaster】


In the past, True Buddha School (TBS) groups and cultivation venues have requested Grandmaster to name their proposed temple, chapter or cultivation venue. Grandmaster encourages disciples to propagate Buddhadharma, and will usually grant such requests and bestow a cultivation venue name by writing it in his own calligraphy.

However, even though Grandmaster has bestowed a name for a cultivation venue in his calligraphy, this does not necessarily mean that the True Buddha Foundation (TBF) has issued official qualification of the proposed venue's legal status under such name.

An existing TBS cultivation venue applying to upgrade its status or a TBS group applying to establish a new TBS cultivation venue must follow the formal application process set out in the TBF by-laws.

TBF By-laws require a cultivation venue or group to follow the process set out in the TBS Cultivation Venue and Organization Regulations by submitting a formal application for a new venue directly to TBF.
In addition, applicants must undergo a preliminary investigation as part of the approval process. Only when the requirements of the preliminary investigation are satisfied will an applicant be permitted to use the name. Thereafter, applicants should continue to complete the registration process.

There have been instances where cultivation venues or groups have used a new name bestowed by Grandmaster for fundraising purposes, but donations or funds raised have not been used for the subject cultivation venue construction or other authorized purposes. Many of these cultivation venues or groups deliberately bypassed the TBF Supervision Department and investigatory processes by never formally applying for the required TBF authorization, and proceeded to deceive and mislead sentient beings. These fraudulent practices by unauthorized groups have had a severely negative impact on administrative and supervisory functions of TBF.

Therefore, effective immediately, cultivation venues or groups that fail to apply for formal TBF approval in accordance with procedures set out in the TBS Cultivation Venue and Organization Regulations are not permitted to advertise fundraising and Dharma related activities in any TBS publications.

Furthermore, cultivation venues or groups that have not formally applied for approval must desist in their unauthorized and unlawful use of any name and calligraphy bestowed by Grandmaster. These cultivation venues and groups must immediately initiate a formal application process which complies with the rules governing establishment of a cultivation venue. TBF will publicly announce the names of groups and cultivation venues who are unwilling to accept corrective action.
In addition, on behalf of Grandmaster, in cases where venues have committed serious offenses, TBF will revoke said venue's right to use the name of the cultivation venue or group bestowed by Grandmaster.

True Buddha Foundation
October 3, 2019


Translated by True Buddha Translation Team
Translator: Lynn Ang
Editors: Henry Wolf and DJ Chang